Apple going green the new eco-tech reality

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Friday, 04 May 2007 19:12

Science - Climate

Apple started their path towards a greener future some time ago, as Steve Jobs noted. Other companies have done the same, although some aren’t as far along the path as Apple, and there must surely be other companies and other industries even further along the path than Apple is today.

Steve Jobs green manifesto is a timely reminder to us all that we must all work towards a green and renewable future, making sure that we not only continue to achieve the quality of life those in the developed world enjoy today, but that the entire world can have access to the same quality of lifestyle – and better – without clouding the world in smog from coal fired power plants and creating even more stores of radioactive nuclear waste.

It’s obvious that the transition cannot and will not happen overnight.

One of the realities the world must face is China might be in the process of building dozens of coal fired power plants as we speak. Over the next few decades, all these power plants will produce a lot of pollution. Australia’s efforts in providing China a ‘clean coal’ that produces fewer pollutants is a great initiative that will genuinely reduce pollution, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Think of the tens of thousands of planes that crisscross the world every year – they produce a lot of pollution too. The millions of cars we drive are finally going hybrid, with some fully electric models starting to appear, but their pollution will continue for at least a couple of decades more, if not longer.

There’s no doubt that if renewable technologies come along that can replace those power plants and eliminate their pollution, countries and people around the world will want to implement them. 

But many of the best technologies are yet to be invented. Making today’s technologies greener than ever will take time, and we must do all we can to help hasten and encourage the development and adoption of these technologies.

Finally, thankfully, we are all on the path towards a greener future as never before, with the topic of energy and the environment increasingly at the top of everyone’s list for the future. Congratulations to Steve Jobs are in order for doing his best to bring the issue to everyone’s attention, along with his pledge to do continue doing more as newer and greener technologies become available.

But it’s just the start. The race to go green is just beginning, and as consumers we must demand ever greener products so we can all live ever greener lifestyles. This is, hopefully, the start of a new ‘arms race’ to spur companies to create the very greenest technologies possible.

It’s one race we all need to win - and it's a race that we all CAN win!